Brooks v. Alabama State Department of Education et al
Filing
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MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING in part and DENYING in part the 8 MOTION to Dismiss as follows: (1) The motion is GRANTED as to Plf's federal and state-law claims against the Alabama State Department of Education and Barrett and F ulton in their official capacities and those claims are DISMISSED without prejudice as barred by Eleventh Amendment immunity; (2) The motion is DENIED as to Plf's federal and state-law claims against Barrett and Fulton in their individual c apacities. This denial is without prejudice to Defs' ability to assert immunity defenses at a later stage of the proceedings as to these claims ; If Brooks intends to seek prospective injunctive relief against the state officials in their off icial capacities, Brooks has until 8/17/2018 to file a new amended complaint complete unto itself which pleads the prospective injunctive relief sought and the basis for it, as further set out in order. Signed by Honorable Judge Gray M. Borden on 8/7/18. (Attachments: # 1 civil appeals checklist)(djy, )
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE MIDDLE DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
NORTHERN DIVISION
MARTIN BROOKS,
Plaintiff,
v.
ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION, et al.,
Defendants.
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CASE NO.: 2:18-cv-565-GMB
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MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER
Now before the court is a motion to dismiss filed by Defendants Alabama State
Department of Education (“ALDOE”), June Barrett, and Perry Fulton. Doc. 8. Plaintiff
Martin Brooks filed this lawsuit on June 7, 2018, alleging several state and federal claims
arising out of his attempt to have a barbeque sauce sold to public schools in Alabama. Doc.
1. Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 636(c) and Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 73, the parties have
consented to the jurisdiction of the undersigned United States Magistrate Judge. Docs. 16
& 17. After careful consideration of the parties’ submissions and the applicable law, and
for the reasons discussed below, the motion to dismiss (Doc. 8) is due to be GRANTED in
part and DENIED in part.
I. JURISDICTION AND VENUE
The court has subject-matter jurisdiction over the claims in this action pursuant to
28 U.S.C. § 1331 and § 1367. The parties do not contest personal jurisdiction or venue,
and the court finds adequate allegations to support both.
II. FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
The facts as alleged in the complaint are as follows. Brooks is the owner and sole
proprietor of DatGoodSauce.
ALDOE oversees and supervises the Child Nutrition
Program for public schools in Alabama. Barrett is the Program Coordinator for the Child
Nutrition Program with the ALDOE and Fulton is the former Program Coordinator.
Brooks alleges that in February 2011 he contacted a public high school in
Birmingham, Alabama about purchasing his barbeque sauce. He was told to contact the
Child Nutrition Program with ALDOE, and did so. Fulton, of the Child Nutrition Program,
told Brooks to check back in November 2011. Brooks did as requested. At that time Brooks
was told that he would receive correspondence on how to present product information to
the state. After subsequently meeting with the state’s purchasing committee, Brooks
received correspondence from Fulton stating that Brooks’ product would be taste tested by
students. Brooks alleges that he was not informed about the bid process or prebid
requirements and was not provided a bid document. Doc. 1 at 5. Brooks became concerned
about the legitimacy of the taste testing. He contacted Fulton in March 2012 to request the
taste test results and alleges that he received incomplete testing documentation.
Brooks complained to the USDA and the Office of Inspector General. He then
received a report which said that “due to some violations,” he would be allowed to retest.
Doc. 1 at 6. Brooks alleges that he spent all of 2015 trying to get the Child Nutrition
Program office to provide open bids. He alleges that in 2016 he received notice from the
Office of Inspector General that the investigation of the bid process would be reopened.
Brooks alleges that his counsel’s paralegal/investigator separately researched the situation
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and determined that some of the schools may not have actually conducted the taste test.
Brooks alleges that he has never received documents showing that the taste test was
conducted or a copy of his bid contract.
Based on these allegations, Brooks brings the following claims: a violation of due
process against the ALDOE, Fulton, and Barrett; violations of the Code of Federal
Regulations (“CFR”) by the ALDOE, Barrett, and Fulton; violations of the Code of
Alabama by the ALDOE, Fulton, and Barrett; negligence claims against the ALDOE,
Fulton, and Barrett; and claims of negligent hiring, retention, and supervision against the
ALDOE.
III. STANDARD OF REVIEW
In considering a motion to dismiss pursuant to Rule 12(b)(6) of the Federal Rules
of Civil Procedure, the court must “take the factual allegations in the complaint as true and
construe them in the light most favorable to the plaintiff.” Pielage v. McConnell, 516 F.3d
1282, 1284 (11th Cir. 2008). To survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must include
“enough facts to state a claim to relief that is plausible on its face.” Bell Atl. Corp. v.
Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 570 (2007). A claim is “plausible on its face” if “the plaintiff
pleads factual content that allows the court to draw the reasonable inference that the
defendant is liable for the misconduct alleged.” Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678 (2009).
The complaint “requires more than labels and conclusions, and a formulaic recitation of
the elements of a cause of action will not do.” Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555. Factual
allegations need not be detailed, but “must be enough to raise a right to relief above the
speculative
level,”
id.,
and
“unadorned,
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the-defendant-unlawfully-harmed-me
accusation[s]” will not suffice. Iqbal, 556 U.S. at 678.
IV. DISCUSSION
A.
Federal Claims
1.
ALDOE
Defendants move to dismiss Brooks’ claims against the ALDOE on the ground that
Eleventh Amendment immunity prohibits suits for damages against a state by citizens of
that or another state absent a waiver by that state. See Kentucky v. Graham, 473 U.S. 159,
169 (1985). Defendants argue that as an arm of the state, the ALDOE is immune from this
suit. Brooks argues in response that Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. 123 (1908), and Fitzpatrick
v. Bitzer, 427 U.S. 445 (1976), allow him to proceed with his federal due process claim.
Brooks’ reliance on Ex parte Young and Fitzpatrick is misplaced. Ex parte Young
applies to state officials, not a department of the state, and does not provide authority for
proceeding directly against the ALDOE. Ex parte Young, 209 U.S. at 128. Fitzpatrick held
that Congress is authorized to allow for a monetary award in a case brought under Title
VII. Fitzpatrick, 427 U.S. at 457. Brooks’ federal claims in this case are not Title VII
claims, but are claims for violation of federal law pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
“Congress has not abrogated Eleventh Amendment immunity in section 1983
cases.” Carr v. City of Florence, Ala., 916 F.2d 1521, 1525 (11th Cir. 1990). Alabama has
not waived its immunity. See Alabama v. Pugh, 438 U.S. 781, 782 (1978). The ALDOE
is a department of the state. See Ala. Code § 16-2-2; Cross v. State of Ala., State Dep’t of
Mental Health & Mental Retardation, 49 F.3d 1490, 1502–03 (11th Cir. 1995) (citing
Alabama Code section establishing department in applying Eleventh Amendment
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immunity). Therefore, the Eleventh Amendment bars Brooks’ § 1983 claims asserted
against the ALDOE, and those claims are due to be dismissed.
2.
Individual Defendants in Official Capacities
The individual defendants, in their capacities as officials of the ALDOE, are “state
officials.” Ala. Code § 22-50-2. “[A]n official capacity suit is, in all respects other than
name, to be treated as a suit against the [governmental entity for which the named
individual serves].” Graham, 473 U.S. at 165; see also Cross, 49 F.3d at 1503 (stating that
“[o]fficial capacity actions seeking damages are deemed to be against the entity of which
the officer is an agent”). Therefore, the Eleventh Amendment bars Brooks’ § 1983 lawsuit
for monetary damages against Barrett and Fulton in their official capacities.
Under the doctrine of Ex parte Young, as noted above, there is an exception to
Eleventh Amendment immunity which allows suits against state officers seeking
prospective equitable relief to end continuing violations of federal law. See Summit Med.
Assocs., P.C. v. Pryor, 180 F.3d 1326, 1338 (11th Cir. 1999). Upon review of the
complaint filed in this case, it is unclear whether Brooks seeks such relief. The prayer for
relief seeks monetary damages and “further relief as the court deems just and equitable.”
Doc. 1 at 30. Brooks will, therefore, be given an opportunity to amend the complaint to
clarify the damages sought. Brooks is cautioned, however, that “to obtain prospective
injunctive relief a plaintiff must show that he faces a substantial likelihood of injury in the
future.” Wooden v. Bd. of Regents of Univ. Sys. of Georgia, 247 F.3d 1262, 1284 (11th Cir.
2001).
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3.
Individual Defendants in Individual Capacities
Brooks has brought several claims for violations of federal law against the
individual defendants in their individual capacities.
Although Defendants move for
dismissal of Brooks’ complaint in its entirety, they do not articulate an immunity defense
that applies to the federal claims brought against Defendants Barrett and Fulton in their
individual capacities. The court has reviewed Defendants’ motion and finds that it invokes
only state-law immunity concepts, stating that the claims in this lawsuit implicate “absolute
immunity in their official capacities and discretionary function immunity in their individual
capacities.” Doc. 8 at 1. Defendants’ reference to “qualified immunity and state-agent
immunity” is a reference to state-law immunity, supported by a citation to a state-law
immunity case, Ex parte Cranman, 792 So. 2d 392 (Ala. 2000). Doc. 8 at 6. Defendants
do not rely on the federal qualified immunity analysis that, once it is established that a
defendant was acting within his discretionary authority, would require the court to ask
whether “the facts alleged show the officer’s conduct violated a constitutional right.”
Saucier v. Katz, 533 U.S. 194, 201 (2001). “[I]f a constitutional right would have been
violated under the plaintiff’s version of the facts,” the court would then determine “whether
the right was clearly established.” Wood v. Kesler, 323 F.3d 872, 878 (11th Cir. 2003).
Federal qualified immunity is an affirmative defense. See Crawford-El v. Britton, 523 U.S.
574, 587 (1998) (stating that qualified immunity is an affirmative defense and the burden
of pleading it rests with the defendant). While Plaintiff must show the violation of a clearly
established right, Rich v. Dollar, 841 F.2d 1558, 1564 (11th Cir. 1988), the court cannot
conclude that Defendants’ motion has invoked federal qualified immunity as a defense so
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as to place that burden on Plaintiff at this time. There being no basis for dismissal of these
federal claims, the court concludes that the motion to dismiss as to the federal claims
against these individuals is due to be DENIED, but the denial will be without prejudice to
Defendants’ ability to advance an appropriate qualified immunity defense at a later stage
of the proceedings.
B.
State-Law Claims
1.
ALDOE
The Eleventh Amendment bars this court from considering state-law claims against
the ALDOE. See Pennhurst St. Sch. & Hosp. v. Halderman, 465 U.S. 89, 103 (1984).
Therefore, the Motion to Dismiss is due to be GRANTED as to the state-law claims
asserted against the ALDOE.
2.
Individual Defendants in Official Capacities
State officials are immune from suits based on state law brought in federal courts.
See Pennhurst, 465 U.S. at 106. Furthermore, the Ex parte Young exception does not apply
to the plaintiff’s state-law claims. Id. (stating that a “federal court’s grant of relief against
state officials on the basis of state law, whether prospective or retroactive, does not
vindicate the supreme authority of federal law [and therefore Young is] inapplicable in a
suit against state officials on the basis of state law”). Therefore, the Motion to Dismiss is
due to be GRANTED as to all state-law claims against Fulton and Barrett in their official
capacities.
3.
Individual Defendants in Individual Capacities
Defendants move for dismissal of the state-law claims brought against Barrett and
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Fulton in their individual capacities, arguing that Barrett and Fulton were exercising their
judgment in performing their duties as the Program Coordinators for the Child Nutrition
Program. Defendants contend that there is no basis for abrogating state-law immunity
because Brooks has failed to allege that Barrett and Fulton acted willfully, maliciously,
fraudulently, in bad faith, or beyond their authority when performing their duties.
The Alabama Supreme Court has established a burden-shifting framework for
application of state-agent immunity.
A defendant initially bears the burden of
demonstrating that he was acting in a function that would entitle the agent to immunity.
Ex parte Estate of Reynolds, 946 So. 2d 450, 452 (Ala. 2006). “If the State agent makes
such a showing, the burden then shifts to the plaintiff to show that the State agent acted
willfully, maliciously, fraudulently, in bad faith, or beyond his or her authority.” Brown v.
City of Huntsville, Ala., 608 F.3d 724, 741 (11th Cir. 2010).
Brooks’ theory does not appear to be that Barrett and Fulton acted willfully or
maliciously, but instead appears to be that immunity is abrogated because Barrett and
Fulton failed to perform their job functions as outlined in statutes and regulations. Doc. 18
at 9. He argues in brief that his complaint states that he was never provided specific
information that Barrett and Fulton had a duty and responsibility to provide. Doc. 18 at 9.
He also alleges that Barrett did not publicly list a bid as required by law. Doc. 1 at 21.
Defendants do not directly respond to Brooks’ argument that Barrett and Fulton
failed to perform their job functions as required by statutes and regulations, but instead say
that the documents Brooks attaches to his complaint do not support his theory, and that
Barrett and Fulton properly exercised judgment in performing their duties.
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Immunity can be abrogated when state officials act beyond their authority by failing
to discharge duties pursuant to detailed rules and regulations. See Ex parte Butts, 775 So.
2d 173, 178 (Ala. 2000) (stating that immunity may be abrogated “if any employee failed
to discharge duties pursuant to detailed rules or regulations, such as those stated on a
checklist”). Under Alabama law, even when state officials are under a mandatory duty to
follow guidelines and rules, however, the guidelines and rules must be sufficiently detailed
to impose specific duties for immunity to be abrogated. Giambrone v. Douglas, 874 So. 2d
1046, 1056 (Ala. 2003).
The resolution of the state-immunity issues in this case will require an examination
of the duties imposed by laws and regulations which Brooks alleges were violated, as well
as facts regarding the actions of Barrett and Fulton. The court cannot appropriately conduct
that analysis at this point, however, because although Brooks has attached various
documents to his complaint the parties disagree as to the facts established by the
documents. Doc. 19 at 3. For example, Defendants state that the documents show that
Brooks’ barbeque sauce was tested, but Brooks disputes that the required tests occurred,
alleging in his complaint that he has never been provided requested documents showing a
taste test was conducted, and an investigator researched and concluded that some of the
schools may not have actually conducted the taste test. Doc. 1 at 8. In reviewing a motion
to dismiss, the court cannot resolve factual disputes, but must accept the allegations as
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pleaded.1
Because Defendants’ motion does not challenge Brooks’ pleading in any way other
than to assert immunity, and the court cannot conclude at this point in the proceedings that
any state-law immunity defense applies, the Motion to Dismiss is due to be DENIED as to
the state-law claims against Barrett and Fulton, individually. Cf. Ex parte Alabama Dep’t
of Mental Health & Retardation, 837 So. 2d 808, 813–14 (Ala. 2002) (stating that a motion
to dismiss is “typically not the appropriate vehicle by which to assert qualified immunity
or State-agent immunity and that normally the determination as to the existence of such a
defense should be reserved until the summary-judgment stage, following appropriate
discovery.”).
V. CONCLUSION
For the foregoing reasons, it is ORDERED that the motion to dismiss (Doc. 8) is
GRANTED in part and DENIED in part as follows:
1.
The motion is GRANTED as to Plaintiff’s federal and state-law claims
against the Alabama State Department of Education and Barrett and Fulton in their official
capacities and those claims are DISMISSED without prejudice as barred by Eleventh
Amendment immunity.
2.
The motion is DENIED as to Plaintiff’s federal and state-law claims against
Barrett and Fulton in their individual capacities. This denial is without prejudice to
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Because the documents were attached to the complaint, the court is not required to convert the motion to
one for summary judgment. See Day v. Taylor, 400 F.3d 1272, 1275 (11th Cir. 2005).
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Defendants’ ability to assert immunity defenses at a later stage of the proceedings as to
these claims.
3.
If Brooks intends to seek prospective injunctive relief against the state
officials in their official capacities, Brooks has until August 17, 2018 to file a new amended
complaint complete unto itself which pleads the prospective injunctive relief sought and
the basis for it. If Brooks does not file an amended complaint, the case will proceed only
on the claims in the original complaint against Barrett and Fulton in their individual
capacities and will not proceed against Barrett and Fulton on any official capacity claims.
DONE this 7th day of August, 2018.
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